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KRT presents Horseman
By Hannah Thomas
For the past three years, Kincaid Regional Theatre has presented the story of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” during each Halloween season. The spooky story is always a crowd pleaser, but this year, the ghost of The Headless Horseman has come back in a new form– a new play by Pendleton County’s own Michael English.
Horseman: A Sleepy Hollow Tale is a fresh, eerie, and absolutely riveting retelling of Washington Irving's classic Gothic fiction tale. There are twists, turns, ups, and downs throughout the plot that are sure to keep you at the edge of your seat. The play follows the small farm town of Sleepy Hollow. The town’s cherished beauty, Katrina, wishes to learn and explore the world outside of Sleepy Hollow. Tension grows between Brom Bones, her arrogant and strong boyfriend, and Ichabod Crane, the town’s new hopeful schoolteacher, who is more concerned with the wealth of Katrina’s family. The superstitious townsfolk are just as invested as the audience will be, filling us in on the lore of the story along the way. And the ghost of The Headless Horseman, of course, plays a role in the story when Brom Bones uses the legend to scare Ichabod away for good. The past of Ichabod Crane is also explored in this production. We get to learn about Ichabod Crane’s past “through a gripping side plot revealing the dark past of Ichabod Crane during his time in the revolutionary war.”, as the show’s playwright Michael English puts it.
Being the show’s writer, director, and lead, Michael is extremely passionate about this story. “As a lover of Halloween and the Classic tale by Washington Irving, I knew I had to write this script,” he explains in the Director’s Note.
You may recognize Michael from his past work with KRT. Notably, he has portrayed the roles of Brom Bones and Ichabod Crane in past productions of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. “I’ve been a part of sleepy hollow for over five years now…the story never gets old. I’m very honored for KRT to have chosen my script for this year's production, as The Legend of Sleepy Hollow holds a strong place in my heart” he tells us. He has also recently brought to life the roles of Johnny Cash in Million Dollar Quartet, as well as directing The Very Unmerry Adventures of Robin Hood. His last self-written show to be performed at KRT was Naughty or Nice.
The cast of Horseman is ready to tell this narrative in a new way. Cast members include Bethany English, Brett Price, Damian Newman, Dimitry Owen, Hannah Conrad, Hannah Thomas, Josh Devaney, Logan Morris, Luke Beckett, Mack Hodge, Madyson Mccrann, and Allison Kalas.
Horseman: A Sleepy Hollow Tale is a high-energy show that I’m sure will be a hit. Michael tell us, “No matter the age, if you are looking for a good laugh, or some dancing, or a spook then you’ve come to the right place.”
Horseman: A Sleepy Hollow Tale runs this weekend, October 12-18, beginning at 7 p.m. at Stonewood Gardens. The show takes place outside of the theater on Stonewood Gardens’ outdoor gazebo, utilizing the eerie atmosphere of the sun setting, as well as giving it an authentic feel. There are plans to hold the show inside in case of compromising weather conditions. Admission is FREE, with donations to the theater accepted. Bring your own lawn chair or blanket, and prepare to love Horseman: A Sleepy Hollow Tale!